Monica Baey, who sparked a national debate on sexual harassment, among women awarded for gender equality efforts

SINGAPORE — Earlier this year, a frustrated undergraduate took to social media to vent her frustrations. She had been the victim of a voyeur, and she felt that he had gotten off with a slap on the wrist.

Now, seven months on, Ms Monica Baey has been given the “Woman of Courage” award by the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). 

Speaking to TODAY before the awards ceremony, which was held at Shangri-La Hotel on Saturday (Nov 2) — her birthday — Ms Baey said that she was honoured to receive the award.

“It means the world to me that I’m able to be recognised for standing up for other survivors of sexual assault,” the 23-year-old said.

“I’m really thankful that Aware is able to show through these awards that women can be empowered to make a change in society and encourage other women to stand up as well.”

In April, Ms Baey made a series of Instagram stories in which she expressed her anger that a fellow student, Mr Nicholas Lim, had been issued only a conditional warning from the police and a one semester suspension from the university after filming her in the shower at the Eusoff Hall student residence in the National University of Singapore (NUS) last November.

The posts went viral and sparked a national debate that eventually received an airing in Parliament and led NUS and other universities here to strengthen their disciplinary frameworks against those who commit sexual offences on campus and shore up support for victims of such offences. 

In its citation for Ms Baey, Aware said that she had “bravely stood up for herself after an experience of sexual harassment on campus”. 

“Though the uproar that ensued was intense and unexpected, she persisted, eventually driving a major shift in Singaporean attitudes towards sexual violence. By asking her university to own up to its inadequate policies and procedures, Monica fostered the creation of a safer campus for all students, and galvanised other schools and institutions to follow suit.”

Ms Baey said that in the months while her case and the larger issue of sexual offences on university campuses were being hotly discussed in the media, she did not eat or sleep much as she was replying to emails and posting messages on social media to reiterate her stance. 

After the media furor died down, she took a three-month break to “take care” of herself and get into a “healthy mental space”.

Now she is ready to do battle again. Ms Baey, who is working full-time while pursuing part-time studies in communications and new media at NUS, said that she will be working closely with Aware to champion issues related to sexual assault. 

In her acceptance speech at the award ceremony, she said that Aware was a big help to her in those months when she was fighting for change. 

“There were times I felt like I had the whole world on my shoulders, and I didn’t know what the next right move to take was, or how I could work towards furthering the movement I started,” she said.

“Because of (Aware’s) experience in championing issues, they were spot on with their advice. I became clearer of what to ask for, and how to ask for it, in a way that would make sense to the system.”

THE SOCIOLOGIST WHO STUDIED INTERSECTION OF INEQUALITY AND GENDER

Aware also gave awards to two other women on Saturday. Sociologist Teo You Yenn was given the “Woman of Insight” award, while Ms Liyana Dhamirah, an advocate for the homeless, was given the “Woman of Resilience” award.

Associate Professor Teo, who is the head of the sociology department at Nanyang Technological University, sparked a national conversation on inequality in Singapore through her book, This is What Inequality Looks Like, which was published in January 2018.

Aware said that Assoc Prof Teo’s book “brought to light the ways gender and inequality intersect in Singapore”. 

“Immersing herself in the lives of low-income families, she wrote about issues some would rather dismiss, igniting an ongoing conversation about the systemic shortcomings in our famously affluent nation. 

“You Yenn's approach is measured, anchored in data; she is always respectful, but clear about what needs to change.”

Assoc Prof Teo, 44, told TODAY that she has learnt a lot from her friends at Aware and she will continue to work with them on issues of justice and equality.

Her next step is to conduct more research and writing, as well as “continue efforts to build solidarity with others who would also like to see a more just and equal society”, she added.

FROM HOMELESS TO ENTREPRENEUR

For Ms Liyana, she chronicled her journey of being homeless to becoming an entrepreneur through her book Homeless, focusing on a lesser-seen segment of society.

“She sheds light on how society lets the individual down — the confluence of circumstances that led to her homelessness — and how it can pull an individual up again,” Aware said. 

“She embodies resilience, determination and public spirit, in her continuing work to support lower-income families and the homeless.”

Ms Liyana, who was named “Woman of Resilience” by Aware, said that she had no idea that a book about her life would spark so much discussion on homelessness in Singapore.

The 32-year-old, who was living on beaches around Singapore for three months in 2009 after being thrown out of her former mother-in-law’s house, said that she had not written her book with the intention of receiving an award and had meant for it to be a journal for herself.

Since her book was published in August this year, the mother-of-three has been busy giving talks at schools and organisations to share her experience about being homeless.

With another child on the way, Ms Liyana is also focused on running her home-based startup Virtual Assistants Singapore, which provides startups with remote assistance in administrative tasks.

In her acceptance speech, she lauded Aware for its work in helping the homeless.

“It took me six years of pain and struggle to finally get my book printed. I’m grateful I did it because writing Homeless has helped me release my past sufferings,” she said.

“I know what it’s like not to have a home. That’s why I strongly supported Aware’s petition to help single mothers appeal for housing from the Government. Aware also provides them shelter when they have absolutely no place to go.” 

As part of its annual gala on Saturday, Aware raised about S$600,000 in donations, the largest ever sum it has raised through a single event.

Executive director of Aware Ms Corinna Lim said that the funds will go towards supporting research and advocacy efforts by Aware, which she described as “the beating heart” of Aware since its founding in 1985.